This Saturday, Nov. 2, Bucknell University’s all-gender a cappella group, Beyond Unison, will celebrate a significant milestone: their 20th anniversary. The group, founded on Halloween in 2004, will mark the occasion with a special reunion concert at Rooke Chapel, where past and present members will come together to perform for alumni, friends and the Bucknell community. The event promises to be a heartfelt trip down memory lane, filled with nostalgia, powerful music and the deep bonds that unite the group’s members.
Beyond Unison, affectionately known as BU, is not just a premier a cappella group. For its members, the group has become a family. Alexis Killeen ’26, who joined Beyond Unison during her first year at Bucknell, describes the tight-knit nature of the group. “Beyond Unison is more than just a club to us – it’s truly a family that we have developed and that has been cultivated over the years,” Killeen shares. “We value the culture of being fearlessly honest, fearlessly loving and fearlessly devoted to each other and the music we make.”
Killeen, who has been the group’s treasurer since the second semester of her first year, plays a critical role in keeping Beyond Unison running smoothly. “I manage all of our finances, including reimbursements and our budget and I handle fundraising and donations we receive from alumni,” she explains. But beyond her official responsibilities, Killeen treasures the personal connections she’s made through the group. “They’ve truly been the warmest and most welcoming community that I could find on campus,” she says. “Especially as a first-year, when you’re joining a new school, and you don’t know what to do, and you’re scared, it was the best experience I could have had.”
The reunion concert holds particular significance for current members and alumni alike. “This 20-year anniversary is really a celebration for the current group and for the alumni of the legacy that has been built,” Killeen reflects. The concert is a symbolic reflection of the group’s history and the continuity of its mission – creating high-quality a cappella music while fostering deep friendships.
What makes Beyond Unison’s anniversary concert extra special is that it falls on “Halloweekend”, commemorating the group’s Halloween founding in 2004. This Saturday’s event will feature more than just the current group’s repertoire. “The way that the concert is structured is that each generation of Beyond Unison – every four years – will sing four to five songs from that period,” Killeen explains. Alumni who performed or recorded specific songs during their time with Beyond Unison will be invited on stage to sing, creating a moving experience that spans the group’s two-decade history. “We have songs dating all the way back to 2006-2007, which is going to be really cool and exciting.”
As one of several a cappella groups on Bucknell’s campus, Beyond Unison stands out not just for its music, but also for its energy and camaraderie. Killeen explains that the group’s recent repertoire includes an eclectic mix of older and contemporary music. “Beyond Unison lately has been singing a lot of oldies,” she says, noting that their reunion concert will feature artists like Stevie Wonder and Billy Joel. But they also keep things fresh with pop hits. “We’ll switch it up with some pop songs,” she adds, with Hozier and Adele rounding out their more modern selections.
More than just their song choices, Killeen believes Beyond Unison’s fun-loving spirit sets them apart. “We’re a lot of fun to be around and we’re a lot of fun to watch on stage. I think we take what we do very seriously, but we also have a lot of fun doing it.”
One of the most cherished traditions within Beyond Unison is their closing song at the end of every concert: “Hallelujah”. Arranged by a former member, the song has been passed down through generations and for the reunion concert, 60 alumni will join the current group on stage to sing it together. “I will definitely be crying my eyes out for that one,” Killeen says, anticipating the powerful emotions that will arise when all of Beyond Unison unites for this meaningful tradition.
Preparation for the reunion concert has been rigorous, with rehearsals taking up much of the group’s time this semester. “Our music director, Liz Donlinger, is amazing,” Killeen says. “We have almost like a curriculum for each rehearsal, with sectional time for sopranos, altos, tenors and basses to practice.” The group is now in the polishing phase, fine-tuning their music and ensuring they connect emotionally with each song. “If you’re not getting the song emotionally, it’s not going to click physically,” Killeen explains.
The group’s commitment to excellence goes beyond their live performances. Beyond Unison has recorded several albums and EPs, available on streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify and they plan to record another album this December. “We do professional recordings every couple of years,” Killeen shares, adding that the most recent EP was released during her first year, titled “On the Floor”.
As Beyond Unison celebrates its 20th anniversary, the group remains committed to continuing its legacy. “We’re going to continue to honor what’s been built,” Killeen says. With new members joining each year, the group is always evolving while staying true to its roots. For those interested in becoming part of Beyond Unison, auditions are held each fall and sometimes in the spring. “We’re always at the activities fair,” Killeen notes, encouraging students to follow the group on Instagram @BeyondUnison for updates on auditions.
Beyond Unison’s 20th-anniversary concert promises to be an unforgettable celebration of music, friendship and tradition. As the group’s members, both past and present, gather on stage, they will not only be honoring two decades of beautiful harmonies but also the lasting bonds they have formed through the years – bonds that make Beyond Unison so much more than just an a cappella group, but also a family.
